PROSPECT.1 NEW ORLEANS
November 1, 2008 – January 18, 2009
VERNISSAGE: October 30 and 31, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
PRESS CONFERENCE: October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Largest Biennial of International Contemporary Art
Ever Organized in the United States
Prospect.1 New Orleans, the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, is pleased to announce that its Vernissage will take place on October 30 and 31, 2008 with private previews to be held at all participating venues throughout the city. A Press Conference will be held for all pre-registered and accredited press on Friday, October 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Among the highlights of the Vernissage is the Opening Gala at the classic New Orleans restaurant, Antoine’s, on October 31, which will help to underwrite the costs of presenting Prospect.2. (For information on tickets please contact Kate Ross of Livet Richard Company at 212-868-8450 X 206 or Kate@livetreichard.com.) This event will be followed by the annual Frenchman Street Halloween Parade, in which the entire city and visitors turn to the streets to celebrate.
The biennial will then open to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 1, 2008 at the U.S. Mint, Louisiana State Museum followed by a second ribbon cutting at the Contemporary Arts Center. Other opening weekend events include panel discussions with artists, educators, museum directors, and curators; free concerts featuring local New Orleans musicians; the All-Night Opening Party at Mardi Gras World; and the Farewell Brunch at Commander’s Palace (For information on tickets please contact Kate Ross of Livet Richard Company at 212-868-8450 X 206 or Kate@livetreichard.com.).
The biennial is free to the public and will remain open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. throughout the weekend. Prospect.1 will be on view until January 18, 2008, Wednesday through Sunday in most locations.
Funding
This exhibition has been made possible with the support of Prospect.1 New Orleans Founding Benefactor Toby Devan Lewis. Major exhibition support has been provided by Peter B. Lewis; W New Orleans; The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.; and Agnes Gund. Additional support has been provided by Sydney and Walda Besthoff, III; Susan Brennan; Beth Rudin DeWoody; Lyn and John Fischbach; Paul J. Leaman, Jr.; Adam Lewis; The O’Grady Foundation; Donna Rosen; Billie Milam Weisman and The Frederick R. Weisman Philanthropic Foundation; Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation; Virginia Lyons Speed; Prospect.1 Kingfishers Leadership Committee; and Prospect.1 Big Shots Gallery Circle; among others.
U.S. Biennial, Inc., the nonprofit organizer of Prospect.1, continues active outreach for funds to underwrite the exhibition. To make a donation, please visit www.prospectneworleans.org
About Prospect.1 New Orleans:
Prospect.1 New Orleans was conceived by Dan Cameron to reinvigorate the city, a historic regional artistic center, following the human, civic, and economic devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The primary goal of the biennial exhibition is to redevelop the city as a cultural destination where the visual arts are celebrated and can once again thrive. New Orleans was the first U.S. city to host a recurring international art exhibition, beginning in 1887 with the Exhibition of the Art Association of New Orleans. In this tradition, Prospect.1 will provide the public with work by 81 artists conceived and developed for the city. The largest international art biennial ever held in the United States, Prospect.1 will reach an estimated audience of 100,000 visitors, half of whom will likely be Louisiana state residents.
For more information on Prospect.1 New Orleans and the opening weekend, or to make a gift, please visit www.prospectneworleans.org or contact U.S. Biennial, Inc. at (212) 680-5305 or mail@prospectneworleans.org
Media Contact:
Kellie Honeycutt or Elizabeth Reina
Blue Medium, Inc.
T: (212) 675-1800
F: (212) 675-1855
E: kellie@bluemedium.com